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10 Products That Must Be Killed in 2010 By Don Reisinger
Palm Pre
When Palm first introduced the Pre, most tech users were excited to get their hands on it. The device had the ability to multitask and, thanks to a nice design, it looked like it would be a viable alternative to the iPhone. But once the Pre launched, all its troubles stole the show. It had battery problems that Palm took too long to address. It lacked native third-party apps. And the touch screen wasn't as nice as some had hoped. Today, it's an also-ran on a network that no one cares about. It has to go.
BlackBerry Storm2
RIM quickly realized after the release of the iPhone that it needed a touch-enabled device to compete with Apple's product. It offered the BlackBerry Storm. The phone was, by most accounts, a failure. Its touch screen was awful. The way in which users interacted with applications was abysmal. But when the company released the BlackBerry Storm2 this year, it promised bigger and better things. It didn't happen. Get rid of the Storm, RIM.
iPod Classic
The iPod is undoubtedly a success. It has revolutionized the way users interact with music. But the iPod Classic is quickly becoming the "other" iPod on the market. The Shuffle makes sense for runners. The iPod Nano is great for those who want a slim, cheap option. And the iPod Touch is just as useful as the iPhone without the phone. The iPod Classic finds itself decidedly in the middle with a limited amount of value.
Windows Vista
Now that Microsoft has finally released Windows 7, the company should do whatever it takes to get Windows Vista off computers worldwide. Whether it offers more attractive upgrade deals or something else, Microsoft needs to do it. Windows Vista was a failure. The software giant needs to make people forget about it as soon as possible.
Google Wave
Google Wave was supposed to be the next big thing from Google. But when some users started trying it out, they recognized it for what it really is: a glorified instant-messaging platform. It still has a modicum of promise, but Google should focus on Chrome OS and forget about Wave.
Windows 7 Starter Edition
Windows 7 is great, but the operating system's Starter Edition is a joke. It lacks so many of the features found on other versions of the software that it doesn't even make sense for users to want it. Sure, it's designed for netbooks, but can't Microsoft come up with a full-featured version of Windows 7 that will work just as well? I hope so.
Google Nexus One
Although the Nexus One hasn't even hit store shelves, it's probably not the best idea for Google to release it. The phone holds a lot of promise, and it could revolutionize the mobile industry, but how will it affect Google's bottom line? Other vendors in the Open Handset Alliance might not like that Google is competing with them. If that happens, it could hurt Android sales. That's the last thing Google wants.
JooJoo
Formerly known as the CrunchPad before Fusion Garage sold it on its own, JooJoo is the subject of much debate in the tech world. Lawsuits are flying from TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington, who is trying to stop the sale of the device. If you ask me, it should be killed before it's even released. Let's wait for the lawsuits to be hashed out before either company moves forward.
The Ultraportable Notebook
The ultraportable notebook needs to go. Right now, the small, lightweight notebook is caught between netbooks and larger notebooks. But its functionality is so similar to netbooks that most folks are choosing the cheaper option. The netbook has killed the small notebook. When will vendors realize it?
BlackBerry OS (in Its Current Form)
This might not be a popular choice for some, but the BlackBerry OS is outdated. When users look at the iPhone's software and compare that to the BlackBerry OS, they'll likely be hard-pressed to see much value in the latter. It's time RIM came up with new software that appeals to current consumer desire. If it doesn't, it could lose serious market share to the iPhone.
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See All Slideshows
As the year comes to a close, it's time to think back at all the products, applications and other goodies that made 2009 such a great year for those who follow the tech industry. That grouping of viable products was headlined by Snow Leopard, Windows 7, the new and improved iPhone 3G S, and more. It was generally a great year for the tech industry.
But that doesn't mean that there weren't some products that left us wishing for more. Some hardware devices that survived through 2009 failed to live up to the hype. Software applications that have lingered for too long still haunted us in 2009. As good as some of the offerings were this year, there were still others that shouldn't make it to 2010.
This eWEEK slide show looks at 10 software and hardware products that deserve to die in 2010. These products weren't necessarily released in 2009, but they certainly made a mark in the industry at some point during the year. And for many of these products, that mark was far less than ideal.